Warning: large snakes involved. Proceed cautiously if you have a problem with snakes

I can't believe I haven't updated this all year!

(Sorry. I just had to.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug, Batman, or Black Panther

Chapter 39: Animan, Part 2

"That's one large bear," Chat Noir noted as he dodged a swipe from Animan. "I would hate to see one of these in the wild."

"We need to get him into the bus!" Ladybug said.

"I'm not sure he'll fit!" Chat Noir replied.

Chat Noir rolled away from a swipe, and Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around Animan's arms, trapping him. Animan roared, and then changed into a frog.

"Now!"

Ladybug and Chat Noir raced into the bus, followed by the frog. Chat Noir hit the close door button and he and Ladybug jumped out of the bus.

As the door closed, Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around the bus. "Let's see you try to break out of that."

"Brilliant plan, my Lady," Chat Noir replied.

Animan changed into an elephant, then a T-Rex, expanding the bus and tugging against the yo-yo without escaping.

"It's working!" Ladybug said.

"He'll tire out in no time," Chat Noir added.

Animan changed into a wooly mammoth, and the bus groaned under the strain. His tusks punctured the top of the bus.

"Oh no," Ladybug muttered. "He'll be able to escape through that hole!"

Animan changed again, and though he was showing exhaustion, he didn't hesitated after transforming into a butterfly. He flew out of the bus and, transforming again, landed on the ground as a panther.

"You really like cats, huh?" Ladybug noted.

"Can you blame him?" Chat Noir asked.

Animan growled and lunged at Ladybug, but she rolled out of the way. Chat Noir vaulted over Animan and landed next to her. Animan attacked again, and Chat Noir thrusted with his baton, catching Animan's mouth in the middle. Chat Noir pushed upwards, sending Animan backwards.

Animan growled and transformed, growing taller than Chat Noir or Ladybug.

"That is a huge bird," Chat Noir commented. "With a huge beak."

"At least it looks flightless," Ladybug added.

The bird pecked downwards, forcing the two superheroes to dodge. Animan pecked again, hitting Chat Noir on the rib and sending him backwards.

"Ow," Chat Noir commented as he stood up.

Ladybug launched herself upwards and wrapped her legs around the bird's massive body. She pushed herself up so that she was standing, and then moved forwards and sat on the bird's head.

"Can't bite me up here," Ladybug teased. She wrapped her legs around his beak.

As Animan tried to shake Ladybug off, Chat Noir made a dive for his front leg, where he wore the akumatized bracelet. His fingers scraped the object as Animan transformed again.

Ladybug yelped as she fell to the floor, but rolled in time to keep from landing harshly.

Animan growled as his transformation back to a panther finished.

Ladybug gritted her teeth. "I'm tired of panthers. Chat Noir, remember Mr. Pigeon?"

Chat Noir frowned. "Do you think that would work for a panther?"

"Only one way to know!" Ladybug swung her yo-yo, shielding her as Animan pounced again. Animan backed up and growled.

"All I'm finding are sports stats!" Chat Noir yelled. "And a theory about whether Batman or Black Panther would win in a fight."

Ladybug scowled. "That's not helpful."

Animan pounced again. Ladybug side-stepped the attack and swung her yo-yo. The string wrapped around the cat's torso.

Ladybug pulled, yanking Animan off his feet and onto the ground. Purple bubbles around Animan as he transformed again, and all but disappeared.

"I think he transformed into a gnat," Ladybug said. "We just have to wait for him to transform again."

Ladybug and Chat Noir backed up until they were standing back to back.

"Any idea where he went?" Chat Noir asked.

"Can't see - there!"

Out of seemingly nowhere, a large bat materialized. It flew at Ladybug and Chat Noir, forcing them to duck.

The bat circled in the air, transforming into an eagle. It flew at the superheroes again, scratching at Ladybug ear.

"Ow!" Ladybug yelped, bringing her hand up to her ear. It was bleeding.

Chat Noir sneezed. "Feathers? Again?"

Animan circled around and dove at them again. Chat Noir spun his baton, creating a shield that forced Animan off his path. Ladybug threw her yo-yo, wrapping it around Animan's leg. She pulled down, and the yo-yo began to slide the bracelet off.

Animan transformed again, disappearing, and her yo-yo collapsed to the ground.

"So close!" Ladybug recalled her yo-yo.

Purple bubbled in the sky as Animan transformed, and a 40-foot snake fell out of the sky.

Ladybug and Chat Noir dove out of the way as Animan fell to the ground. He hissed and turned to Chat Noir.

"Snakes should not be that big!" Chat Noir said, backing up.

Animan pounced, and Chat Noir dodged. Animan raised his tail and swiped it at Chat Noir, sending him a few paces backwards.

Ladybug scanned the snake, searching for the bracelet. It was hanging close to his head, almost like a necklace.

"We need to get close to the head!" Ladybug called.

"No thanks," Chat Noir replied.

Ladybug ran at the snake, landing next to his head with her feet on either side of him. She put one hand on his hand, and reached for akuma with the other.

Animan lashed with his tail, hitting Ladybug hard on her back and sending her across the field.

"Ladybug!"

"I'm fine." Ladybug stood up and grabbed her yo-yo, ready to rejoin the fight.

Chat Noir turned back to Animan just as he pounced. Animan knocked Chat Noir over, and then wrapped his massive body around him.

Ladybug circled around Animan so she was out of his line of sight. Chat Noir met her eyes and grinned.

"You know," he said to Animan. "You smell really badly."

"Give over your Miraculous," Animan replied.

"Don't you mean miraculoussssss." Chat Noir drew out the s, mimicking a snake.

Ladybug was two steps away. Cautiously, she took a step closer. And another step.

She was there.

"I could squeeze all that humor out of you easily," Animan replied.

"Dont you mean-"

"No I don't!"

Ladybug reached out slowly. Her fingers were inches away from the akuma.

And then, as fast as she could, she grabbed the bracelet, tore it off of Animan, and stomped on it.

The winds picked up again.

Facts: the large bear is called a Arctodus, the bird a phorusrhacid, and the snake a titanboa.